John Shaqi

٩٤. وَسُئِلَ (عليه ‏السلام) وَعَنِ الْخَيْرِ مَا هُوَ؟ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَالُكَ وَ وَلَدُكَ وَلَكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ وَأَنْ يَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ وَأَنْ تُبَاهِيَ النَّاسَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنْ أَحْسَنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللَّهَ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتَ اسْتَغْفَرْتَ اللَّهَ وَلَا خَيْرَ فِى الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لِرَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٍ أَذْنَبَ ذُنُوباً فَهُوَ يَتَدَارَكُهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَرَجُلٍ يُسَارِعُ فِى الْخَيْرَاتِ.


Translation

94. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, was asked what is good and he replied: Good is not that your wealth and progeny should be much, but good is that your knowledge should be much, your forbearance should be great, and that you should vie with other people in worship of Allāh. If you do good deeds you thank Allāh, but if you commit evil you seek forgiveness of Allāh. In this world good is for two persons only; the man who commits sins but rectifies them by repentance; and the man who hastens towards good actions.


Chapter (Bab)The essence of good lies in knowledge, forbearance, and worship
CollectionNahj al-Balagha

Compiled by al-Sharif al-Radi

Source

License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)

Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.